American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Review

If you’ve ever held a credit card with a solid rewards program before, you probably think that all cards with good rewards come with two things: high interest rates and a hefty annual fee. God forbid you can’t pay off your card in full every month (which as a MoneyStreetSmart reader I hope would never happen) or you fail to spend enough to break even on rewards, you can end up losing out big.

This is not the case with the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® card. The rates are reasonable, the annual fee is the lowest on the market, and the rewards program is favorable for those who know how to use this card wisely. Read on to learn more about my thoughts on the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express and how to use it to it’s maximum potential.

Cardholder Bonuses

When you acquire a Blue Cash Everyday® card, you are eligible to earn 50 Rewards Dollars (redeemable for a $50 statement credit) within the first three months of owning the card. The offer’s terms mandate that you spend $1,000 within those first three months on qualified purchases. You must also be new to American Express. There is also a fifteen-month, 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers) for new cardholders.

In addition to this, you get one year of Amazon Prime (which gives you unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items) after you sign up for a new membership with your Card and meet the spending requirement in the same period (3 months).

APR & Fees

Annual Fee:
A great benefit to choosing American Express Blue Cash Everyday® over other rewards cards is its lack of an annual fee. Whereas many cards that offer the same level of rewards usually charge in upwards of $90 or more per year (right away or after the first year), the Blue Cash Everyday® card is a step ahead of its competitors by charging $0 annually now and indefinitely.

Misc. Fees:
There are, of course, other fees involved though, so you have to use the card in smart ways to really benefit. The Blue Cash Everyday® charges a higher foreign transaction fee than other cards: 2.7% fee after conversion from American dollars. For the frequent travelers, it’s often better to go with a credit card that doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees, like most cards from Capital One. Furthermore, the Blue Cash Everyday® card’s transaction fees (balance transfer and cash advance) are either $5 or 3% of the total amount (whichever is greater). And if you make a late payment, you could pay up to $35 in fees. But I know you’re a MoneyStreetSmart reader and would never dream of racking up one of these charges, so let’s move on 😉

APR:
For the first fifteen months of card membership, you have the 0% introductory APR, then 12.99%—21.99% thereafter (based on your creditworthiness and other factors). These APR rates also apply to balance transfers made within the first 30 days of account opening.

Membership Rewards® Program

Cash Back Figures:
When it comes to rewarding its cardholders, American Express really offers excellent value with its Blue Cash Everyday® card. The biggest bonus is its 3% back on purchases made at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year). There is also 2% cash back when you use your card at participating gas stations and department stores. For all other purchases, you receive 1% cash back.

Available Rewards:
The rewards dollars you earn with your eligible purchases can be redeemed for: statement credit, gift cards, or merchandise. Note that you cannot redeem rewards dollars until you have a minimum of 25 on your account. If you want to earn more rewards dollars, American Express can enroll you in its Automatic Bill Pay program and help you earn cash back just by paying your bills on time.

Additional Benefits

Travel:
Beyond the rewards aspect of the Blue Cash Everyday® card, there are many travel benefits and protections included with card membership. American Express offers the 24/7 Global Assist® Hotline (to answer your questions when traveling 100+ miles from home), reliable roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, and assistance for instances of identity theft.

Shopping:
American Express offers solid protection when you use you Blue Cash Everyday® cards to shop. On eligible purchases, you can receive an extra year on your manufacturer’s warranty and purchase protection on items you purchase with your card (coverage for accidental damage or theft within the first ninety days of purchase). American Express also offers its cardholders return protection and dispute resolution for most transactions made with your card.

Final Word

American Express Blue Cash Everyday® cardholders may not have the most competitive cash back rates or universal merchant acceptance as seen with MasterCard and Visa cardholders, but these potential downsides and the higher foreign transaction fees cannot outweigh the huge advantages of potentially earning 50 rewards dollars in the first three months and the $0 annual fee, plus a year of Amazon Prime for free. Combined with relatively average APR, an excellent rewards program and multiple protections for cardholders, Blue Cash Everyday® is a quality card that can cover your expenditures and earn you some rewards along the way.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

About Russell Kith

Russell Kith grew up in small town Wisconsin, the youngest of 4 boys. Having devoted most of his adolescent years to troublemaking, he left home at 18 and roamed across the world taking a variety of jobs he declines to specify. These days, you can find him writing about personal finance on the web. You can follow Russell on Google+ or Twitter.